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Three lift/propulsion concepts for a V/STOL supersonic combat aircraft have been compared. The intention was to show the effect of the propulsion system on aircraft weight and size, performance, and life cycle costs for: 1 Vectored thrust with Plenum Chamber Burning (bypass air augmentation) 2 Lift engines and a lift/cruise reheated turbofan 3 A reheated lift/cruise turbofan with a remote augmented lift system (RALS) For a postulated deck-launched intercept mission, the vectored thrust propulsion system with Plenum Chamber Burning gives the smallest and cheapest aircraft having the required performance. In addition, for a given take-off ground run the vectored thrust powered aircraft has the longest fighter escort mission radius.

By testing a large bypass ratio fan engine in an altitude test facility the performance under simulated flight conditions can be measured. Good accuracy of the results demands careful selection and use of pressure transducers and load measuring equipment. Such a test measures thrust under quiescent air conditions. Model tests need to be used to determine the changes in engine flow and thrust coefficients brought about by the influence of the free stream flow.

The Rolls-Royce/S.N.E.C.M.A. Olympus 593 employs a variable area primary nozzle and has a reheat system - both novelties to civil aviation. The main purpose of this paper is to show that these innovations are accommodated without generating crew work load problems. Consequently the paper is aimed primarily at the airline user rather than the control system specialist. A brief description is given of the basic engine electrical control and its interface with the intake system. The flight deck mounted thrust management controls and indicators are identified and their use described during the course of a typical flight. The subject of engine mechanical condition monitoring is also examined.

Front nozzle thrust augmentation, on lift/cruise engines like the Pegasus, could greatly improve the range and load carrying capacity of Harrier/AV-8B type VTOL aircraft and is essential for supersonic derivations. However its introduction requires several new technologies to be developed for the augmentor itself, for the augmentor and engine control system and to cater for various potentially adverse ground effects and related matters. These are the subject of a number of current research and development programmes which will lead to an engine demonstration of an advanced augmentor.

The progress with the use of deflected thrust in European V/STOL airplanes is reviewed. The difficulties which arise in adopting this concept are examined and commented upon in the light of the practical experience which has been accumulated. Several configurations are discussed: the single sided deflector, a more complex rotating cascade version, the tilting pod-engine configuration, and the vectoring nozzle.